Video system using two different kinds of recording media

ABSTRACT

A video system is arranged to record, on a second recording medium of a relatively small capacity, a given period portion of a video signal relating to an image plane representing each of varied programs included in the video signal and information on a recorded position of each of the programs on a first recording medium which has a relatively large capacity.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/152,965, filedNov. 15, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,419, which is a continuation ofSer. No. 07/853,539, filed Mar. 18, 1992, abandoned, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 07/630,406, filed Dec. 19, 1990, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,126,851, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/202,217 filed Jun.3, 1988, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a video system and more particularly to avideo system which is capable of looking up at a high speed a videosignal recorded on a recording medium having a large capacity.

2. Description of the Related Art

The recent advancement of technology for recording at a high degree ofdensity has come to enable a VTR to perform long-time recording on avideo tape. For example, the VTR of the VHS standards has become capableof recording a video signal over a period of eight hours. As a result ofthis, a high speed look-up system has become necessary. To meet thatrequirement, there have been proposed look-up systems called VISS (a VHSindex search system) and a VASS (VHS address search system) which areoperating on the basis of a so-called CTL coding technique. In the CTLcoding, the width (or duty ratio, to be exact) of control signals to berecorded on a video tape is arranged to have two different widths. Thewider control signal is defined by the binary value of "0" and thenarrower control signal by another binary value of "1". Digital signalsare recorded by combining the values "0" and "1". Then, these digitalsignals are used for a look-up operation. In accordance with the VISSsystem, index codes which serve like the indices of books are marked indesired parts of the video tape. In reproduction, a look-up action isfirst performed either at a high speed or automatically for the leaderpart of a desired record before the record is reproduced in an ordinarymanner. In the VASS system, address codes (address information) aremarked in figures of four places beforehand and the leader part of adesired record is automatically looked up with reference to thefour-place figures before reproduction.

The recording medium which permits recording many video signals or along-time video signal is not limited to a video tape but may beselected from among other media such as an optical disc, anopto-magnetic disc, etc. which have already been developed into apracticable state. Further, the adoption of a vertical magnetizingmethod for high density recording has made possible long-time videorecording on a magnetic disc.

By virtue of the above stated VISS or VASS system, the look-upcapability of the VTR on a video tape has been greatly enhanced.However, with respect to easy and rapid confirmation of images recordedon a video tape, the look-up capability of the VTR is stillinsufficient. Further, since the market prices of video tapes haverecently lowered to a great degree, each home is regarded as having aconsiderable number of tapes. In other words, the conventional look-upsystem is incapable of permitting the operator to easily and promptlyknow what kind of image is recorded on the video tape.

Such high speed look-up becomes necessary in cases where many images arerecorded on an optical disc, an opto-magnetic disc, a magnetic disc of alarge capacity or the like. In an apparatus, such as VTR editing system,that is arranged to have identification (ID) signals of varied kindsadditionally recorded along with a video signal on the recording mediumand to reproduce images in a desired sequence by using the recorded IDsignals, a reproducing VTR and a recording VTR are controlled on thebasis of a time code recorded on the video tape. The control parametersof the system are temporarily stored in a floppy disc or the like bymeans of a data recorder called a logging device to ensure thereproducibility of the details of control thereof.

In addition to the above stated system, a VTR having a special automaticreproducing function has been disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationSHO 59-120963. This VTR is arranged to record control information in theform of a cue signal. The VTR disclosed facilitates data managementdespite having a simple structural arrangement. However, it is hardlysuited for cases wherein complex operation control or a display of thecontents of the record, etc. is required.

In the above stated conventional system, wherein the sequence ofreproducing procedures is controlled in accordance with a program, ithas been difficult to carry out a complex operation such as a loopaction for slowly reproducing the record of a specific section an Nnumber of times and to have the tape rewound to an extent correspondingto an M number of frames. It is also a problem with the prior artdescribed that, in case where control data is to be stored in a floppydisc, the control data alone hardly enables the operator to grasp inoutline the contents of the whole tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of this invention to solve the above statedproblems of the prior art.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a video systemwhich enables the operator thereof to promptly grasp the record contentsof a recording medium having a large capacity.

Under this object, a video system arranged according to this inventionas an embodiment thereof comprises an input part arranged to receive avideo signal; extracting means for extracting one image plane portion ofthe video signal as at image plane representing one of the programsincluded in the video signal; first recording means for recording thevideo signal on a first recording medium; generating means forgenerating time information relating to a recorded position on the firstrecording medium where the one image plane portion of the video signalextracted by the extracting means is recorded; and second recordingmeans for recording, on a second recording medium of a smaller recordingcapacity than that of the first recording medium, the time informationgenerated by the generating means and the one image plane portion of thevideo signal extracted by the extracting means.

It is another specific object of the invention to provide a video systemwhich is capable of promptly looking up any desired program recorded ona recording medium of a large capacity.

Under that object, a video system arranged according to this inventionas another embodiment thereof comprises first reproducing means forreproducing a video signal recorded on a first recording medium;extracting means for extracting one image plane portion of the videosignal as an image plane representing one of a plurality of programsincluded in the video signal reproduced by the first reproducing means;a generating means for generating time information relating to arecorded position on the first recording medium where the one imageplane portion of the video signal extracted by the extracting means; andsecond recording means for recording, on a second recording mediumhaving a smaller recording capacity than that of the first recordingmedium, the time information generated by the generating means and theone image plane portion of the video signal extracted by the extractingmeans.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereoftaken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing in outline the whole of a video systemarranged as an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a signal flow taking place within the videosystem of FIG. 1 from a VTR to a still video recording and reproducingdevice.

FIG. 3 shows a recording pattern obtained on a video tape.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show the frequency allocation of recording signalsobtained by the VTR and the video recording and reproducing device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the signal flow taking place within thesystem of FIG. 1 from the still video recording and reproducing deviceto the VTR and a CRT.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the signal flow taking place within thesystem of FIG. 1 from the still video recording/reproducing device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in outline the whole of a video systemarranged according to this invention as another embodiment thereof.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing by way of example the practical arrangementof the system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows the data format of ID signal of a still video recording andreproducing device of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing in outline the whole of a video systemarranged as a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the automatic reproducing operation ofthe system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a multi-image-plane display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the embodiments of this invention described below with reference tothe accompanying drawings, the invention is applied to image recordingand reproducing systems using magnetic tapes and magnetic discs:

FIG. 1 shows in a block diagram the arrangement of a whole system whichis arranged as an embodiment of the invention to use a still video discas a storage medium for preserving look-up data including representativeimages, record cassette numbers, record head addresses, recordinglengths, etc. The system consists of a VTR 10 which is provided forreproduction of a video tape; a video signal input part 11; a stillvideo disc recording and reproducing device 12 which is arranged toperform recording on and reproduction from a still video disc; aconverter 14 which is arranged in between the VTR 10 and the still videorecording and reproducing device 12 to perform signal conversion,operation control, etc.; and a display device 16 which is a CRT and isarranged to display look-up data supplied from the still video recordingand reproducing device 12 or a reproduced image supplied from the VTR10.

A preferred method for the use of the embodiment illustrated is asfollows: The records on the magnetic tape are reproduced at a highspeed. One field video signal portion of a representative image planerepresenting each image program recorded on the magnetic tape and anindex signal, a time code, etc. corresponding to the representativeimage plane are then recorded on a still video disc. In confirming apart of the video tape in which a desired image is recorded, either therecord contents of the still video disc are serially displayed on thedisplay device 16 or data for a plurality of programs is displayed onthe display device 16 all in one image plane. The embodiment thuspermits confirmation of the outline of the contents of a plurality ofprograms recorded on the video tape.

The system part which records the look-up data for the images recordedon the video tape is arranged as follows: FIG. 2 is a block diagramshowing in outline the basic arrangement of this part. The VTR 10includes a rotary magnetic head 20; a fixed magnetic head 22;reproduction amplifiers 24 and 26; a luminance (Y) signal processingcircuit 28; a chrominance (C) signal processing circuit 30; a mixer 32;and a CTL demodulation circuit 34. The converter 14 includes a fieldmemory 36; a Y/C separation circuit 38; a chrominance signaldemodulating and color-difference signal line-sequential circuit 40; anda control circuit 42 for controlling the field memory 36. The stillvideo recording and reproducing device 12 includes a frequencymodulation circuit 44 for frequency-modulating the luminance signal; afrequency modulation circuit 46 for the chrominance signal; an IDprocessing circuit 48; a mixer 50; a recording amplifier 52 and arecording head 54.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 2 operates as follows: The rotary magnetichead 20 traces a video signal recording area 56 which is provided on avideo tape as shown in FIG. 3. The fixed head 22 traces a CTL signalrecording area which is provided on the video tape in a manner as shownalso in FIG. 3. A reproduced signal produced from the rotary head 20 hasfrequency allocation as shown in a spectrum in FIG. 4(a). The Y signalprocessing circuit 28 demodulates the Y (luminance) signal which hasbeen frequency-modulated. The C (chrominance) signal processing circuit30 converts a carrier chrominance signal of a low carrier frequency intoa carrier chrominance signal of a carrier frequency of 3.58 MHz. Themixer 32 produces in a mixed state the Y signal produced from the Ysignal processing circuit 28 and the C signal produced from the C signalprocessing circuit 30. The demodulation circuit 34 demodulates a CTLsignal obtained from the fixed head 22 and produces a signalrepresenting an index and a time code which are indicative of arepresentative image plane and are required for look-up. Further, aswell-known, the CTL signal is provided mainly for tracking control.However, since the CTL signal is irrelative to this invention, it isomitted from illustration.

The output of the mixer 32 is written into the field memory 36 everytime the index signal is supplied to the control circuit 42. In otherwords, for every image plane representing one program, one field portionof the video signal indicative of the representative image plane iswritten into the memory 36. The field memory 36 and the control circuit42 together form a first extracting means. The one field portion of thevideo signal which is written into the memory 36 is supplied to the Y/Cseparation circuit 38 to be divided into the Y signal and the C signal.The demodulating and line-sequential circuit 40 first demodulates the Csignal separated by the Y/C separation circuit 38 to form thereby twocolor-difference signals R-Y and B-Y. The circuit 40 then alternatelyproduces the color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y for every H(horizontal scanning) period.

The frequency modulation circuit 44 frequency-modulates the luminance(Y) signal separated by the Y/C separation circuit 38. The otherfrequency modulation circuit 46 frequency-modulates a line-sequentialcolor-difference signals produced from the demodulating andline-sequential circuit 40. In this instance, the modulated carrierfrequency of the color-difference signals is arranged to be lower thanthat of the luminance signal. Further, the modulated carrier frequenciesof the color-difference signals R-Y and B-Y are arranged to differ by0.1 MHz from each other for a discrimination between thesecolor-difference signals. The ID processing circuit 48 receives a signalfor look-up (including an index signal and a time code signal indicativeof the beginning and the end of a corresponding program) from thecontrol circuit 42. The ID processing circuit 48 and the control circuit42 together form a second extracting means. The ID processing circuit 48converts the look-up signal into a DPSK signal. The mixer 50 producesthe outputs of the frequency modulation circuits 44 and 46 and that ofthe ID processing circuit 48 by frequency-multiplexing them. The signaloutput of the mixer 50 has a spectral frequency distribution as shown inFIG. 4(b). The output of the mixer 50 is applied to the recording head54 via the recording amplifier 52. The head 54 then records it on astill video disc which is not shown.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing by way of example a practicalarrangement of the reproducing part of the still video recording andreproducing device 12 included in the system of FIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 5, the reproducing part consists of a reproducing head 60; areproduction amplifier 62; a frequency demodulation circuit 64 for theluminance signal; a frequency demodulation circuit 66 for thecolor-difference signals; a coincidence circuit 68 which is arranged tocontemporize the line-sequential color-difference signals; a quadraturetwo-phase modulation circuit 70; an ID processing circuit 72; acharacter generator (CG) 74; a mixer 76; a connection terminal 78 whichis provided for connection via the converter 14 to the display device16; and another connection terminal 80 which is provided for connectionvia the converter 14 to the VTR 10.

A signal reproduced by the reproducing head 60 is supplied to thefrequency demodulation circuits 64 and 66 and also to the ID processingcircuit 72. The frequency demodulation circuit 64 demodulates afrequency-modulated luminance signal included in the reproduced signalto a base band frequency. The frequency modulation circuit 66 alsodemodulates frequency-modulated color-difference signals to the baseband frequency and supplies them to the coincidence circuit 68. Thecoincidence circuit 68 includes a delay line for delaying by one Hperiod and a change-over switch. The two color-difference signals whichhave been line-seriated are caused to coincide with each other by thecoincidence circuit 68. The two color-difference signals which are thuscontemporized are modulated by the quadrature two-phase modulationcircuit 70. The ID processing circuit 72 demodulates a DPSK signal. Anindex signal and a time code signal which is thus obtained are suppliedfrom the ID processing circuit 72 to the character generator (CG) 74 andalso to the VTR 10 via the connection terminal 80. Upon receipt of theindex signal and the time code signal, the CG 74 produces figurescorresponding to these signals at suitable timing for an image planedisplay.

The mixer 76 mixes the luminance signal coming from the frequencydemodulation circuit 64, a carrier chrominance signal coming from thequadrature two-phase modulation circuit 70 and a pattern signal comingfrom the CG 74. A mixture signal thus obtained is produced from themixer 76 to the display device 16 via the connection terminal 78. At thedisplay device 16, the index signal which is recorded as an ID signaland the time code signal which is also recorded as an ID signal and isindicative of the beginning and the end of a corresponding program aredisplayed in a state of being superimposed on one field portion of animage corresponding to a representative image plane.

With the look-up information in a state of having been recorded on astill video disc by the still video recording and reproducing device 12,images recorded on a video tape can be looked up in the followingmanner: First, a record on the still video disc is reproduced by thestill video recording and reproducing device 12 to have the look-upinformation displayed by the display device 16. Then, a desired cut(image plane) is selected. An instruction for this selection is given bymeans of an input device such as a key-board which is not shown. Inresponse to this instruction, the still video recording and reproducingdevice 12 transmits applicable look-up information to the VTR 10. TheVTR 10 feeds the video tape at a high speed to an applicable partthereof in accordance with the look-up information. The VTR 10 thenreproduces a desired image in a normal manner and applies the reproducedimage to the display device 16. As a result, the display state of thedisplay device 16 changes from a still image display for look-updesignation over to a motion image display of the desired image.

It goes without saying that a circuit for signal exchange between theVTR 10 and the still video recording and reproducing device 12, aselection switch for making a selection between the display of an imagesreproduced by the still video recording and reproducing device 12 andthe display of an image reproduced by the VTR 10, etc. are disposed atthe converter 14.

As reflected in the recently published S-VHS standards, the picturequality of the images recorded on video tapes have been salientlyimproved. One field portion of an image signal which is a part of amotion picture can be adequately recorded or reproduced as a stillpicture. Therefore, the system described in the foregoing is extremelyconvenient as means for finding the contents of a motion picture.

Further, in the embodiment described, the image plane representing eachprogram and the index signal, etc. for that representative image planeare arranged to be recorded on the still video disc when the VTR 10performs a reproducing operation. However, they may be changed to berecorded at the time of recording by the VTR 10.

FIG. 6 shows a circuit arrangement which enables the system of FIG. 1 tohave the look-up information recorded by the still video recording andreproducing device 12 when a video signal recording operation isperformed by the VTR 10. In FIG. 6, the component parts similar to thoseshown in FIG. 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals and thedetails of them are omitted from the following description. A signalsupplied via a terminal 82 to a video signal input part 11 is dividedinto a luminance signal and a chrominance signal by a Y/C separationcircuit 92. The luminance signal thus separated is frequency-modulatedby a luminance signal processing circuit 94. Meanwhile, the chrominancesignal is supplied to a chrominance signal processing circuit 96 to haveits carrier frequency converted to a lower band. The luminance andchrominance signals processed by these processing circuits 94 and 96 aremixed together at a mixing circuit 98. A mixed signal thus obtained issupplied via a recording amplifier 100 to a magnetic rotary head 102 tobe recorded within the area 56 shown in FIG. 3. Meanwhile, a known CTLsignal is supplied via an amplifier 88 to a fixed magnetic head 90 to berecorded within the area 58 as shown in FIG. 3.

When a recording instruction is given to a system control part 84 froman operation part (not shown) for recording an index image plane duringthe above stated recording operation of the VTR 10, the system controlpart 84 controls a CTL modulation circuit 86 to change the duty of theCTL signal to be recorded. Then, an index signal, etc. are recordedwithin the area 58. An image plane representing a currently recordingprogram is recorded within the field memory 36 with a signal writingaction on the field memory 36 brought to a stop at this moment. At thesame time, the system control part 84 causes the index signal and thetime code signal to be supplied to the ID processing circuit 48. Thisenables the system to record the look-up information, the representativeimage plane, etc. in the same manner as described in the foregoing withreference to FIG. 2.

While the embodiment described in the foregoing used a video tape as afirst recording medium and a still video disc as a second recordingmedium, the invention is not limited to the use of these recordingmedia. In accordance with the invention, other recording media includingthe optical disc mentioned in the foregoing and a solid state memorysuch as a semiconductor memory, etc. are also usable. As apparent fromthe foregoing description, even in case where many programs are recordedon the first recording medium, the embodiment is capable of enabling theoperator to easily and promptly confirm the part at which any of theprograms is recorded and the contents of the program through an imagerepresenting the record of the program. The embodiment is capable ofpromptly shifting its operation to the reproduction of a desiredprogram. The embodiment also enables the operator to confirm the amountof remaining recordable portion of the first recording medium byreproducing and displaying the record of the recording medium providedfor look-up information.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing, as another embodiment of thisinvention, the arrangement of a still video recording and reproducingdevice for storing, on a still video disc, information required forcontrol over the reproducing operation of a VTR. Referring to FIG. 7, aVTR 110 is arranged to reproduce motion image (and sounds) informationfrom a magnetic tape 112. A still video recording and reproducing device114 which is arranged to record on a still video disc 116 a still imageand ID information thereon and to reproduce the record from the disc116. A reference numeral 118 denotes a monitor. The VTR 110 transfers tothe still video recording and reproducing device 114 the motion imageinformation (with sound information) and time information correspondingto the motion image information (such as a timing code indicating arecord position, a recording length of time, etc.). Conversely, thestill video recording and reproducing device 114 transfers to the VTR110 a control signal for controlling the operation of the latter. Avideo signal which is reproduced (with an audio signal) from the videotape 112 is applied as desired to the monitor 118. Further details ofprocessing procedures are as described below:

Various scenes (or cuts) taken by a video camera are recorded on thevideo tape 112. In the following description, the cuts that are deemedto be necessary are assumed to be selected from among these cuts and tobe reproduced in a programed manner. More specifically, a reproducingmethod for each of the necessary cuts is first recorded on the stillvideo disc 116. FIG. 8 shows further details of the arrangement of FIG.7.

Referring to FIG. 8, the VTR 110 includes a rotary head 122 which isarranged to reproduce a record from the video signal recording area ofthe video tape 112; a fixed head 124 is arranged to reproduce a recordfrom the control (CTL) track; a system controller 126 which is arrangedto control the whole VTR 110; a video signal processing circuit 128which is arranged to process the signal reproduced by the rotary head122 and to produce a composite video signal thus obtained; and a CTLprocessing circuit 130 which is arranged to shape the wave form of a CTLsignal reproduced by the fixed head 124. The CTL processing circuit 130thus obtains CTL code information and supplies it to the systemcontroller 126 in the form of a digital signal. Upon receipt of thedigital signal, the system controller 126 decodes it into a time code.

In the still video recording and reproducing device 114, a systemcontroller 132 is arranged to perform overall control over each part andto exchange signals between the system controller 126 of the VTR 110.The system controller 132 thus receives the time code from the systemcontroller 126. The still video recording and reproducing device 114further includes an ID generating circuit 134 which is arranged togenerate an ID signal for a DPSK signal; a recording circuit 136 whichis arranged to convert the ID signal generated by the ID generatingcircuit 134 into a signal recordable on the disc 116; a recordingamplifier 138; a recording/reproduction change-over switch 140; amagnetic head 142 for recording/reproduction; a reproduction amplifier144; a reproduction circuit 146 which is arranged to process a signalreproduced by the head 142 and to produce it as a reproduced videosignal; an ID detection circuit 148 which is arranged to detect the IDsignal from the reproduced signal obtained by the head 142 and decodethe ID signal; a frame memory 150; a selection switch 151 which isarranged to select either a reproduced still picture signal obtainedfrom the disc 116 or the video signal coming from the VTR 110; aselection switch 152 is arranged to select either a motion picture or astill picture; and a signal processing circuit 154. The signalprocessing circuit 154 is arranged, for example, to generate charactersaccording to the time code and to superimpose them on the video signal.

In the normal reproduction mode of the VTR 110, the output of the videosignal processing circuit 128 of the VTR is applied via the switch 152and the signal processing circuit 154 to the monitor 118. Then, amongimages, etc. confirmed by means of the monitor 118, one series ofinformation parts considered necessary are handled as one program. Theprogram thus obtained is recorded on the disc 116 after it is processedinto information required for reproduction control. This reproductioncontrol information includes time information on the starting and endingpoints of one program and some representative image plane that clearlyindicates the contents of the program, such as the image plane of thefirst field.

FIG. 9 shows the distribution of bits for the ID code within one fieldperiod. Referring to FIG. 9, 27 bits are provided for a user area. Forexample, the address, a designated reproduction speed, a display or nodisplay, etc. are set in a manner as shown in FIG. 9.

With the above stated representative image plane determined, thereproduction control information is recorded on the still video disc116. In this case, the connecting position of the switch 140 is on theside of its contact a. The recording circuit 136 receives and processesthe DPSK signal from the ID generating circuit 134 and the video signalfrom the video signal processing circuit 128. Theses signals are thenfrequency-multiplexed as mentioned in the foregoing. Thefrequency-multiplexed signal is amplified by the recording amplifier 138and is recorded on the disc 116 by the head 142. The reproductioncontrol information for many cuts can be thus serially recorded on thestill video disc 116.

In reproducing the record from the disc 116, the connecting position ofthe switch 140 is shifted to its contact b. The reproduction circuit 146reproduces a video signal from the signal reproduced by the head 142.The ID detection circuit 148 detects the ID signal from the reproducedsignal and produces the ID signal by decoding it. In accordance with theID signal produced from the ID detection circuit 148, the controller 156controls the frame memory 150, the switches 151 and 152 and the signalprocessing circuit 154. The frame memory 150 is controlled with respectto the signal taking-in timing thereof.

Reproduction control is performed in accordance with information setwithin the user area in the following manner: A total of 4×4 bits areused for the address. This corresponds to the four-place time codeobtained in the case of the CTL coding of VHS mentioned in theforegoing. A time code indicative of the head part of the cut is thusstored in 16 bits at the applicable address.

Next, data "speed" (two bits) designates a speed at which the applicablecut is to be reproduced. Assuming that the tape feeding speed is N andnormal reproduction is performed at N=1, there are varied reproductionspeeds, for example, as expressed below:

00: N=1 (normal)

01: N<1 (slow)

10: l<N<max. (search)

11: N=max. (FF or FR)

Data "display" which is in two bits designates the source of an image tobe displayed on the monitor 118 while a section of the tape 112corresponding to the applicable program is transported. The data isarranged, for example, as shown below:

00: Video tape 112; switch 152 to contact a

01: Disc 116; shift switch 151 to contact b and switch 152 to contact b

10: Frame memory 150; shift switch 151 to contact a and switch 152 tocontact b

11: No display; muting at signal processing circuit 154.

Data "slave control" which is in one bit is provided for use inperforming editing work on the video tape 112 by connecting to thesystem a slave VTR 119 in a manner as shown in FIG. 10. The data isarranged, for example, to give information as shown below:

0: Stand-by for recording

1: Recording in process

Data "others" is additionally provided for other usages and is notabsolutely necessary. The first two bits are used for designating fouroperation modes which, for example, includes:

00: Special reproduction speed. It serves as two lower bits for the"speed".

01: Special memory reproduction, special effect

10: Color back, instruction for writing into memory

11: Others, such as control over color tone and external device

Four ensuing bits are used for designating the details of the modedesignated. For example, in the case of the special reproduction speed,a total of 16 different reproduction speeds can be set for each of theslow mode (01) and the search mode (10). If "00" is set in designatingthe normal speed (N=1), the lower four places may be used for setting astill reproduction time.

The still video disc is provided with an extra track for overall controlin addition to the first to 50th tracks which are normally used. Thisextra track may be used in defining an interrelation among cuts. Sucharrangement makes a complex sequence control possible.

In accordance with the reproduction control information which isobtained every time the record of one track of the disc 116 isreproduced, the system controller 132 of the still video recording andreproducing device 114 controls the system controller 126 of the VTR110. Then, the controller 156 controls the switches 151 and 152, theframe memory 150 and the signal processing circuit 154 as mentioned inthe foregoing. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an automatic reproducingoperation which is thus accomplished. Referring to FIG. 11, Thereproduction control information is reproduced from the first track ofthe disc 116 at steps S1 and S2. At a step S4: The control data thusobtained is supplied to the VTR 110 to cause the VTR 110 to operate inaccordance with the control data. At a step S5: The address A of thesecond track is read in. At steps S6 and S7: With the address A comparedwith a time code T received from the VTR 110, the tape 112 is allowed totravel until the value of the time code T comes to exceed the value A.At steps S8 and S2: Data of the second track is read out when the valueT comes to exceed the value A. At a step S3: The flow of operationproceeds until there remains no data.

One and the same video tape can be variously enjoyed by playing it backin varied manners with a plurality of still video discs of the abovestated kind differently arranged.

Referring to FIG. 12, the reproduction data of the still video disc 116may be displayed in a multiple image plane displaying manner as shown inFIG. 12. Since the disc 116 has a total of 50 tracks, two multiple imageplanes may be arranged with each of them formed into a 5×5 matrix. Thisarrangement permits prompt confirmation of the contents of one disc 116by just viewing two image planes. This greatly facilitate reviewal ofthe contents of the disc 116. In this case, it is preferable to havetime data and control data for reproducing speed, etc. superimposed oneach of small image planes included in the multi-image plane. Themulti-image plane is obtainable by reducing the period of samplingpulses of the controller 156 to 1/5 and by horizontally shifting theaddress, in accordance with a known method for digital television.

Further, a memory for storing ID data for 50 tracks may be arrangedwithin the controller 156. Then, with all the ID data first read out atthe start of reproduction, any title indication that is not recorded onthe video tape 112 (for example, the 17th cut in FIG. 12) can be firstdisplayed on the reproduced image plane.

While the embodiment described is arranged to use a video tape as thefirst recording medium and a still video disc as the second recordingmedium, this invention is not limited to the use of media of thesekinds. Other recording media including an optical disc file and asolid-state memory such as a semiconductor memory are likewise usable.

As apparent from the foregoing description, the video system accordingto the invention permits not only complex programmed reproduction butalso use of commercially available devices and apparatuses, so that thesystem can be arranged at a low cost.

What is claimed is:
 1. A signal processing system comprising:(a) arecording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing a movingpicture signal which has plural programs on and from a first recordingmedium; (b) a signal processing device for generating still picturesignals corresponding to a plurality of still pictures each of whichrepresents each of the plural programs of the moving picture signal torecord and reproduce the still picture signals on and from a secondrecording medium, the signal processing device including a memory forstoring the still picture signals reproduced from the second recordingmedium and reducing each of the plurality of still pictures representedby the reproduced still picture signals by using the memory; and (c) adisplay device for displaying the plurality of reduced still picturescorresponding to the still picture signals read out from the memory on acommon screen.
 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signalprocessing device includes receiving means for receiving the movingpicture signals reproduced by the recording and reproducing device, andextracting means for extracting the still picture signals from themoving picture signals.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein thesecond recording medium has larger capacity than that of the memory, andwherein the first recording medium has larger capacity than that of thesecond recording medium.
 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein thefirst recording medium includes a tape-shaped recording medium, andwherein the second recording medium includes a disk-shaped recordingmedium.
 5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first recordingmedium includes a tape-shaped recording medium, and wherein the secondrecording medium includes a semiconductor memory.
 6. A system accordingto claim 1, wherein the signal processing device also generates controlsignals relating to the still pictures and records the control signalson the second recording medium.
 7. A system according to claim 6,further comprising a control device for controlling an operation of therecording and reproducing device according to the control signalsreproduced by the signal processing device.
 8. A system according toclaim 7, wherein the control device includes determining means fordetermining a still picture from the plurality of still picturesdisplayed by the display device,the control device controlling theoperation of the signal processing device according to a control signalcorresponding to the still picture determined by said determining means.9. A signal processing system, comprising:(a) a recording andreproducing device for recording and reproducing a moving picture signalwhich has plural programs on and from a first recording medium; (b) asignal processing device for generating still picture signalscorresponding to a plurality of still pictures each of which representseach of the plural programs of the moving picture signal to record andreproduce the still picture signals on and from a second recordingmedium, the second recording medium being portable, the signalprocessing device including a memory for storing the still picturesignals reproduced from the second recording medium and reducing each ofthe plurality of still pictures represented by the reproduced stillpicture signals by using the memory; and (c) a display device fordisplaying the plurality of reduced still pictures corresponding to thestill picture signals read out from the memory on a common screen.
 10. Asystem according to claim 9, wherein the signal processing deviceincludes receiving means for receiving the moving picture signalsreproduced by the recording and reproducing device, and extracting meansfor extracting the still picture signals from the moving picturesignals.
 11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the second recordingmedium has larger capacity than that of the memory, and wherein thefirst recording medium has larger capacity than that of the secondrecording device.
 12. A system according to claim 9, wherein the signalprocessing device includes a memory for storing the still picturesignals reproduced from the second recording medium and reduces each ofthe plurality of still pictures represented by the reproduced stillpicture signals by using the memory.
 13. A system according to claim 9,wherein the first recording medium includes a tape-shaped recordingmedium, and wherein the second recording medium includes disk-shapedrecording medium.
 14. A system according to claim 9, wherein the firstrecording medium includes a tape-shaped recording medium, and whereinthe second recording medium includes a semiconductor memory.
 15. Asystem according to claim 9, wherein the signal processing device alsogenerates control signals relating to the still pictures and records thecontrol signals on the second recording medium.
 16. A system accordingto claim 15, further comprising a control device for controlling anoperation of the recording and reproducing device according to thecontrol signals reproduced by the signal processing device.
 17. A systemaccording to claim 16, wherein the control device includes determiningmeans for determining a still picture from the plurality of stillpictures displayed by the display device,the control device controllingthe operation of the signal processing device according to a controlsignal corresponding to the still picture determined by said determiningmeans.
 18. A signal processing system, comprising:(a) a firstreproducing device for reproducing moving picture signals which hasplural programs from a first recording medium; (b) a second reproducingdevice for reproducing still picture signals corresponding to aplurality of still pictures each of which represents each of the pluralprograms of the moving picture signals recorded on the first recordingmedium from a second recording medium, the second reproducing deviceincluding a memory for storing the still picture signals reproduced fromthe second recording medium and reducing each of the plurality of stillpictures represented by the reproduced still picture signals from saidsecond recording medium by using the memory; and (c) a display devicefor displaying the plurality of reduced still pictures corresponding tothe still picture signals read out from the memory on a common screen.19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the second recording mediumhas larger capacity than that of the memory, and wherein the firstrecording medium has larger capacity than that of the second recordingmedium.
 20. A signal processing system, comprising:(a) recording andreproducing means for recording and reproducing a moving picture signalwhich has plural programs on and from a first recording medium; (b)signal processing means for generating still picture signalscorresponding to a plurality of still pictures each of which representseach of the plural programs of the moving picture signal to record andreproduce the still picture signals on and from a second recordingmedium, the signal processing means including a memory for storing thestill picture signals reproduced from the second recording medium andreducing each of the plurality of still pictures represented by thereproduced still picture signals by using the memory; and (c) displaymeans for displaying the plurality of reduced still picturescorresponding to the still picture signals read out from the memory on acommon screen.
 21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said signalprocessing means includes receiving means for receiving the movingpicture signals reproduced by the recording and reproducing means, andextracting means for extracting the still picture signals from themoving picture signals.
 22. A system according to claim 20, wherein thesecond recording medium has larger capacity than that of the memory, andwherein the first recording medium has larger capacity than that of thesecond recording medium.
 23. A system according to claim 20, whereinsaid display means reduces each of the plurality of still pictures anddisplays the reduced still pictures on the common screen.
 24. A systemaccording to claim 20, wherein the first recording medium includes atape-shaped recording medium, and wherein the second recording mediumincludes a disk-shaped recording medium.
 25. A system according to claim20, wherein the first recording medium includes a tape-shaped recordingmedium, and wherein the second recording medium includes a semiconductormemory.
 26. A system according to claim 20, wherein said signalprocessing means also generates control signals relating to the stillpictures and records the control signals on the second recording medium.27. A system according to claim 26, further comprising control means forcontrolling an operation of the recording and reproducing meansaccording to the control signals reproduced by the signal processingmeans.
 28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the control meansincludes determining means for determining a still picture from theplurality of still pictures displayed by the display means,the controlmeans controlling the operation of the signal processing means accordingto a control signal corresponding to the still picture determined bysaid determining means.
 29. A signal processing apparatus used in asignal processing system including a reproducing apparatus arranged toreproduce moving picture signals which has plural programs from a firstrecording medium, said apparatus comprising:(a) reproducing means forreproducing still picture signals corresponding to a plurality of stillpictures each of which represents each of the plural programs of themoving picture signals recorded on the first recording medium andcontrol information from a second recording medium, the controlinformation indicating positions at which the moving picture signals ofthe programs are recorded on the first recording medium and areproduction speed of the moving picture signals of the programs; (b)reducing means for reducing the plurality of still pictures representedby the reproduced still picture signals by using a memory which storesthe reproduced still picture signals; (c) character signal generationmeans for generating character signals indicating the position and thereproduction speed according to the reproduced control information; (d)display means for displaying the plurality of reduced still picturesrepresented by the still picture signals read out from the memory andthe character signals on a common screen; and (e) control means forcontrolling a reproduction operation of the reproducing apparatusaccording to the control information reproduced by said reproducingmeans.
 30. A signal processing apparatus used in a signal processingsystem including a reproducing apparatus arranged to reproduce movingpicture signals which has a plurality of programs from a first recordingmedium, said apparatus comprising:(a) reproducing means for reproducingcontrol signals including position information indicating positions atwhich the moving picture signals of the plurality of programs arerecorded on the first recording medium and speed information indicatinga reproduction speed of the moving picture signals of the plurality ofprograms from a second recording medium, the position information andthe speed information being recorded at mutually corresponding positionseach other on the second recording medium; and (b) control means forcontrolling a reproduction operation of the recording apparatusaccording to the control information reproduced by said reproducingmeans.
 31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said controlmeans controls the reproduction operation of the reproducing apparatusso that the reproducing apparatus reproduces the moving picture signalsof the programs from the first recording medium at the reproductionspeed indicated by the control information reproduced by saidreproducing means.
 32. A signal processing method which is applicable toa signal processing system including a reproducing apparatus arranged toreproduce moving picture signals which has plural programs from a firstrecording medium, the method comprising the steps of:(a) generatingstill picture signals corresponding to a plurality of still pictureseach of which represents each of the plural programs of the movingpicture signals recorded on the first recording medium; (b) recordingand reproducing the generated still picture signals on and from a secondrecording medium; (c) reducing each of the plurality of still picturesrepresented by the reproduced still picture signals by using a memorywhich stores the reproduced still picture signals; and (d) displayingthe plurality of reduced still pictures corresponding to the stillpicture signals read out from the memory on a common screen.
 33. Asignal processing apparatus suitable for use in a signal processingsystem including a reproducing apparatus arranged to reproduce movingpicture signals which has plural programs from a first recording medium,said apparatus comprising:processing means for reproducing still picturesignals corresponding to a plurality of still pictures each of whichrepresents each of the plural programs of the moving picture signal froma second recording medium; reducing means for reducing each of theplurality of still pictures represented by the reproduced still picturesignals by using a memory for storing the still picture signalsreproduced from the second recording medium; and outputting means foroutputting the still picture signals read out from the memory to adisplay device so that the plurality of reduced still picturescorresponding to the still picture signals read out from the memory aredisplayed on a common screen.
 34. An apparatus according to claim 33,wherein the display device reduces each of the plurality of stillpictures and displays the reduced still pictures on the common screen.35. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said processing meansincluding generating means for generating the still picture signals byusing the moving picture signals reproduced from the first recordingmedium and recording means for recording the still picture signals onthe second recording medium.
 36. An apparatus according to claim 35,wherein said processing means also generates control signals relating tothe still pictures and records the control signals on the secondrecording medium.
 37. An apparatus according to claim 36, furthercomprising control means for controlling an operation of the reproducingapparatus according to the control signals reproduced by said processingmeans.
 38. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the controlsignals include position information indicating positions at which themoving picture signals of the programs are recorded on the firstrecording medium and speed information indicating a reproduction speedof the moving picture signals of programs.
 39. A signal processingapparatus suitable for use in a signal processing system including areproducing apparatus arranged to reproduce moving picture signals whichhas a plurality of programs from a first recording medium, saidapparatus comprising:reproducing means for reproducing control signalsincluding position information indicating positions at which the movingpicture signals of the plurality of programs are recorded on the firstrecording medium and speed information indicating a reproduction speedof the moving picture signals of the plurality of programs from a secondrecording medium, the position information and the speed informationbeing recorded at mutually corresponding positions each other on thesecond recording medium; and output means for outputting the controlsignals reproduced from the second recording medium to a display deviceso that characters represented by the position information andcharacters represented by the speed information are displayed on acommon screen.